A gift that will grow on the giver

Friday

'Tis the season of giving — or so it should be. But what if you're children only think of it as the season of getting?

'Tis the season of giving — or so it should be. But what if you're children only think of it as the season of getting?

That's where volunteer work comes in.

"At first, they want a PlayStation, then they see a little boy or girl that only wants a meal," said Rebecca Leister, director of the Christian Awareness Ministries Ecumenical in Canadensis.

They realize there's more in this world than just them, she said.

"There are actually kids who would be waking up on Christmas morning without a present if it wasn't for Angel Tree," said Maj. James Gingrich, director of the Salvation Army in Stroudsburg.

The Salvation Army runs the Angel Tree program annually to get donations of toys and clothing for needy children. Gingrich explained that little paper angels hang on tree branches in the stores, and state if the child is a boy or girl, the age, clothing and shoe sizes, and gift wishes.

Gingrich thinks that volunteering helps children "become aware of how blessed they are," as well as how great the need is.

Children seem to like to pick an angel from a tree and buy a gift, Gingrich said. They often pick someone close to their own age, and buy them something they would like. It's more personal that way, he said.

Merle Turitz, the interim volunteer resources coordinator for the Retired and Senior Volunteer Program in Stroudsburg, thinks that when children start out volunteering, they continue to volunteer.

"It becomes a way of life," she said. "You start out with good intentions, but what you get out is immeasurable."

Convincing kids to volunteer isn't that hard.

"I think children are more receptive to volunteering than parents think," said Louise Troutman, a leader for a Girl Scout Troop in Barrett Township. "You have to teach them gratitude."

Troutman suggested letting the children pick the charity. Her children even picked a vacation spot based on where they could volunteer. They helped out at a turtle farm, she said.

"There are lots of easy ways to volunteer," Turitz said. "It just starts with one person who says, 'I have an extra hour.' One person turns into two. Two turns into a group."

Turitz said RSVP is a federal program that is operated out of the Monroe County Area Agency on Aging and the Monroe County commissioners' office. Since it is county related, she can accept younger volunteers, too.

Turitz said she often gets high school and college students who have to accumulate volunteer service hours. Sometimes parents call looking for volunteer work for their child who has to accumulate the hours for a church-related function, she said. She also gets calls from people who need help with their lawns or snow removal.

"There are so many needy, elderly people in the community," Turitz said. "All they need to do is look down the street."

Turitz had plenty of volunteer work ideas. She suggested visiting nursing homes. The seniors love it when people come in and read to them or children come in and sing or play instruments, she said. Just call the volunteer coordinator or activities director at the nursing home or local nonprofit agency to arrange helping out.

"There's a lot of behind the scenes work to do — sorting, registering, gift wrapping," Turitz said. "There's nothing better than having community people helping their neighbors."

Gingrich said he still needs volunteers to collect money at the Salvation Army kettles throughout Monroe County. He has 60 kettles and needs more bell ringers. It's an activity that a couple of family members can do together for an hour or two, he said.

Also during the season, the Salvation Army fills food baskets, distributes toys and prepares special meals on the holidays. Their soup kitchen is open Monday through Friday all year, Gingrich said.

Turitz said she is organizing a sock drive for people who don't have socks. It's called "Sock-It-To-Me." She's hoping at least 10 businesses will be willing to let her place a collection box in their stores.

Then starting in December, people can drop in donations of new socks. Turitz said she is going to need some help with collection of the donations and eventually delivery of the items.

"Everybody needs to keep their feet warm," she said.

For the military, Turitz suggested trying the Cheerios program to say thank you to military families and raise money for the USO. Just clip the postcard from the box, write a thank note, put on a stamp and mail it. The USO will distribute the cards. And General Mills will donate $1 for every card to the USO, now through Nov. 30, 2012. Cheerios' website notes that at least $150,000 will be donated with a maximum of $250,000.

"Everybody's got Cheerios," Turitz said. "That's an easy one."

Remember, people are in need all year, not just at Christmas, Turitz said. Maybe make volunteering a New Year's resolution.

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